Lawn mower



.MSQNLN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. DECK LAWN Mow11.

Patented Aug. 22, 1893.

@No Model.)

(No Model.)

-LAWN MOWBR. v

` mm1-,ed Aug. 22, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY DECK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR I IO JOHN BRAUN, JOHN F. BRAUN, AND WILLIAM P. M. BRAUN, OF SAME PLACE.

LAWN-MOWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 503,904, dated August 22, 1893.

Applioationled August I3, 1892. Serial No. 443,018. (No model.)

all will/0m it may concern: il

Be it known that I, HENRY DECK, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvementin Lawn-Mowers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to lawn mowers and consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following specification and are shown in the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

It is the object of my invention to produce a lawn mower of improved construction.

A part of the features of improvement relates to the manner of supporting the shaft of the rotary cutter blades whereby it may be readily adj usted in position, and permitted to automatically adjust itself to any irregularities or unevenness in the stationary or ledger blade. By this means the blades of the rotary cutter may be caused to make constant contact with the edge of the stationary knife to produce the most eective cutting action, without danger of jamming or undue friction, and the slight friction between the blades produces an automatic sharpening of the cutting edges.

Another portion of the invention relates to the manner of supporting the shaft of the rotary cutter so that it may be easily removed from the machine for purposes of repair.

My invention also includes combinations and arrangements of parts which are hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure lis a plan view of the cutters and operating mechanism of my improved lawn mower. Fig. 2 is atransverse vertical sectional View of the same on the line azof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa transverse vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale of the dead or ledger knife and its supporting bar. Fig. 4. is a longitudinal sectional View of the same on the line g/-y of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is alongitudinal Vertical sectional view of the supporting and driving devices of the shaft of the rotary cutter on the line z-z of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the detached journal boxes of the shaft of the rotary cutter. Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the same on the line ttl-to.

vices may be employed.' For the purpose of Fig. 8 is a perspective View o f one of the detached journal box bearings; and Figs. 9 and l0 are detail views in perspective of a portion of one of the side frames and locking devices for theA rotary cutter shaft. V

A are the wheels of the lawn mower, by the rotation of which the shaft of the rotary cutter is driven.

B is the rotary cutter of the usual construction.

C is the shaft of the rotary cutter.

D are the side frames of the machine by which vthe cutting mechanism is carried.

H is the stationary cutter or ledger blade.

It is immaterial to my invention in what particular manner the shaft C of the rotary cutter is driven from the Wheels A; and any convenient form of power transmitting de- 7o illustration, however, I have shown in the drawings driving mechanism, consisting of the internal annular gear vL carried on the inner side of the wheels A, and gearing with a pinion M sleeved on the end of the cutter shaft O, the pawl N carried by the shaft C, and the ratchet P o`n the pinion M, whereby the pinion M drives the shaft C when rotated in one direction, but not in the other.

I shall now describe the features of my invention so far as they relate to the manner of supporting and adjusting the cutter shaft C in the frame of the mover.

The side frames D are provided with open notches d (see Fig. 9), preferably inclined in which the ends of the shaft C are inserted. These notches permit an easy removal of the cutter shaft from the side frames whenever it may be desired for the purpose of making repairs. These notches are preferably larger than the diameter of the shaft so as to permit the shaft to play in them for the purpose of adjustment.

D are plates adapted to be secured to the side frames D to close the openings in the notches and prevent the passage of grass to the shaft C. The plates D may be provided with heads or lugs d adapted to fit down into the notches and effectively close the opening to the shaft. The plate D may be easily detached when desired so as to permit the removal of the shaft C.

IQO

E are journaiboxes in which .th-@shaft die` journaled. These boxes aref-in the f'orrnsoflv upper screws E', through the intermediate blocks F and the springs G. The boxes E are provided with curv'ed'ridgesfe, which' are receivedifn vgroovesfofr the curved under surfaces of the intermediate blocks F, and the zorvends ofzthe upper screwsE are received in recessed collars f2 ofV the-blocks-F, The ends n of the screwsE"may play slightly-up and down inthe recessed collars]c2 andthe springs G are arranged between the blocks F and the screws E.

F are washers which may be placed upon the upperscrewsE resting on shoulders e2 per ends of" theffsprings GL and thusautomati'cally adjust itself withlref- -erence to thetrkni-fe.

` j Through the adjusting screws E which support the journal bofxes the sli-'aft O'may be positively adjustedlwitlr reference tothe ledger kwn-iffe so that thespira-l cuttlng bladesb of the rotaryecutter B Amay just makecontact with the edgeofr the ledger blade H, and, the shaft C being free toyiield through the'sprin gs G, the edges of vtherota-ry cutting bladesb may be kept in contact with:

the'stationary-or ledger blade H, yielding? to any inequalitieso-r unevenfnessv therein'. By thls means al more perfect cutting action: is

obtained and the blades are kept sharpened byvlthe friction o-f their edges. are thus self sharpened.'

By'the adjustment o'f the upper screws E',

itis-'apparent that the tension of thespri-ngs- Gmaybe adjusted to regulate the'freedo-mY of' "theishaft to yield.

Theball and socket support of the ilower portion of the boxes- E'and v the upper sup-r .port 'through the curved fridges-e and -inter mediate grooved blocks F permits a' slight movement of the boxes E at each end ofV theV` shaft O, so that the shaft may moreeasilyady just itself automatically. This construction will permit one end of the shaft to move to a greater or less extent than -the other.

I is thestationary knife bar which carries l theledger blad-e Hi Instead of riveting or -screwing-v the blade Hto its supporting bar I, Ipreferto cast the lsupporting bar I- upon the'steel blade, asf-shown in Figs. 2," 3,' and 4&1 The blade maybe of the of the drawings.

The recesses in the lugs e may be made.v

The upper por-4 tions of the boxes E are supported by the.

usual construction lprovided..w-i-th a :series of perforations h, and when'A the-barIis cast upon it, the metal flows through the perforations h and the bar I becomes firmly secured to the blade substantially as if made of one piece-Withit. The bar I is providedy with Aianges-.I at its ends by which it maybe attached to the side frames D through a bushing J and bolt J2 and nutj. The bushings .If form the bearings for the bar I and permit it to be readily disconnected from the side frames D. The bar I may be adjusted gupon its bearings; tomove the blade lH to proper position with reference to the rotary cutter blades b' through the projecting arms 7c, which are acted upon by two set screws la k carried in lugs k2 k2 of the-frame D (see Fig; 2).V j Y flhebnshingsfJ have theflangesj which frames D- and take the` pl-aceof 'the usual washers.

The useof the-bushingsv J''as the bearings forthe ends of the bar` greatly reducesthe wear andl permits the:r bar` I to bei more eas-ily `=difscon-nected-. y 1

K is the usual guide. roller' carried by ex'- tensionsofthe side framesD- and located in the rearof the-machine behind the-stationary or ledger blade H. i

The `lawn mow-er may be provided with th eusual handle. f

Whi-l'eIPprefer the minori details -of confself to them, as it iss-apparent that they: may be varied without departing-fronrthe vin-ven 1Ation.`

by LettersPatent, isfl. -In alawn mower,l the combinatiouwith the sideframeslof a: rotary cutter andits shaft, and journal boxes for the4 ends'oftherotary inner sides thereof, the sideframes bein g provided with lopen notchesfdwholly independent of the journal boxesto receive-theendsof the rotary cutter shaft' which project beyond` the ends of the journal bo-Xes, wherebythe. rotary Vcu-ttershaftzand its'gj ournalb'oxes vmay be ,removedtogetlherl from the sid'e.=framesa A 2i Ina lawn mower, the1comb'i:nation=with journal boxes for-thelendsof thearot-ary cutter Vsupported bythe side frames onf the-inner sides thereof, they side framesfbeing provided with' open notches: rdvvflolly independent of vthejournal boxesf to receiveA the ends of' the l-rotarycutter shaft which project beyond `:the ends of the` j ournallboxesmherebythe rotary cuttershaft1and its journal Aboxes maybe removed together from the side frames,an.d de,- tachable plates for the side frames:-tof close the notches2 d.

journalboxes for the endslof the rotary cutter supported bythe side frames onV the-inner bear against the outer' faces; ofi thek sidel What I claim as new, and desire to securel cutter supported by the side.f'ra'm.es onfthe tool struction shown, Ido notimeant'o limit my- IIO Y the side frames, of arotary'cutter-au d? its shaft,

8'; In a lawn mower,1the-combination with the=side=frames,of a rotary cutter anditsshaft,

Y notches and partly filling them.

4. In a lawn mower, the combination with the ledger knife, of the rotary cutter having its shaft journaled in automatically yielding bearings whereby the cutter and its shaft may rise automatically.

5. In a lawn mower, the combination of the side frames, the ledger knife, the rotary cutter shaft and cutters, and journal boxes carried by the side frames in yielding supports whereby the cutter and its shaft may yield automatically.

6. In a lawn mower, the combination with the side frames, of the ledger blade, the rotary cutter shaft and its cutters, journal boxes carried by the ends of the cutter shaft and independent of the side frames, and the adjusting supporting screws carried by the side frames and supporting the upper and lower portions of the journal boxes.

7. In a lawn mower, the combination with the side frames, of the ledger blade, the rotary cutter shaft and-its cutters, the tubular journal boxes carried by the ends of the cutter shaft and independent of the side frames, the adjusting supporting screws carried by the side frames and supporting the upper and lower portions of the tubular journal boxes, and springs between the journal boxes and upper supporting screws.

8. In a lawn mower, the combination with the rotary cutter shaft, of journal boxes upon the ends of the shaft, a ball and socket support for the lower portions of the journal boxes, and a yieldingsupport for the upper ends of the boxes.

9. In a lawn mower, the combination with the rotary cutter shaft of the journal boxes upon the ends of the shaft, a support for the lower portions of the journal boxes, a supporting pin for the upper portions of the journal boxes, an intermediate block between the supporting pin and upper surface of the journal box movable upon said uppersurface, and a spring between the supporting pin and intermediate block.

l0. In a lawn mower, the combination with the rotary cutter shaft, of the journal boxes E having the lower recessed lugs e and the upper curved ridges e', the blocks F, having the lower curved grooved surface f fitting over `tl1e curved ridge c of the boxes, the lower supporting screws E fitting the recessed lugs e, the upper supporting screws E', and the spring G between the upper supporting screws E and the blocks F.

1l. In a lawn mower, the combination with the side :frames D having the open notches d, of the rotary cutter shaft C received in the notches d and free to play therein,and yielding bearings for the cutter shaft independent of the notches d.

12. In a lawn mower, the combination with the side frames D having the open notches Y d, the yielding journal boxes for the ends of the shaft independent of the frames D, and supports for the boxes carried by the side frames.

r13. In a lawn mower, the combination with the rotary cutter and its shaft, of the side frames having open notches d extending inwardly from their edges so that the ends of the rotary cutter shaft may be inserted in the side frames or removed therefrom, the open notches being of a size sufficient to permit the ends of the rotary cutter shaft to play vertically, and yielding bearings for the ends of the shaft independent of the notches in the side frames whereby the ends of the shaft when moving with the yielding bearings may rise and fall in the notches d.

14E. In a lawn mower, the combination with the rotary cutter and its shaft, of the side frames having open notches d extending inwardly from their edges so that the ends of the rotary cutter shaft may be inserted in the side frames or removed therefrom, the open notches being of a size sucient to permit the ends of the rotary cutter shaft to play vertically, yielding bearings for the ends of the shaft independent of the notches in the side frames whereby the ends of the shaft when moving with the yielding bearings may rise and fall in the notches d, and detachable, plates D independentof the yielding bearings carried by the side frames and closing the openings of the notches d.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

HENRY DECK.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM P. M. BRAUN, ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER. 

